Method of and apparatus for embossing



Nov. 10, 1936. s. KAUFFMAN ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EMBOSSING Original Filed April 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l $.Kauffman (3.6.1) 05s Nov. 10, 1936. s. KAUFFMAN ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EMBOSSING Original Filed April 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MN E Patented Nov. 10, 1936 2,060,577 F I C E METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EMBOSSING Saul Kauflman and George G. Doss,Syracuse,

N. Y., N

assignors to Meyer Kauflman, Syracuse,

Continuation of application Serial No. 73,000, April 6, 1936. This application August 13, 1936,

Serial No. 95,900

24 Claims.

The present invention appertains to an improved method of and apparatus for embossing, and constitutes a continuation of our co-pending application Serial No. 73,000, filed April 6, 1936.

More particularly, the invention has to do with the production of relief dies, and the like, which are intended for use for hot or cold stamping,

embossing, printing, or otherwise marking leather, metal, and other materials.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a more economical and practical method of producing a relief die or stamp which may be used directly in the performance of stamping or printing operations upon various materials, or frem which other dies may be formed, as desired. As the description proceeds, it will be understood that our new method is more flexible and is applicable to more universal use than the methods heretofore practiced.

One of the most serious drawbacks or disadvantages of the old methods and apparatus for producing a series of identical intaglio or relief designs resides in the necessity of first making a master die, which involves considerable painstaking and rather complicated milling, engraving work, or the like, which are rather laborious and expensive'procedures. Ordinarily, the original master die embraces the entire design or at least a substantial part thereof so that each reproduction of the design from the use of .the master die can be efiected in a single operation. It is only where a relatively large number of reproductions are to be madev from the master die that the old practices become practical, if at all, and even then, nothing like the economy can be attained as in the case of our invention.

According to our improved .method and apparatus, as disclosed herein, we are able to produce a relief or intaglio designwithout the aid of a master die of either the male or female type and at a very small fraction of the cost of the usual master die. ;Of course, after the design has been once produced according to 'our invention, the same can be used as'a master die if desired, or

the same design can be again reproduced the same manner and at a nominal expense.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and economical method and apparatus for forming a relief die by'the extrusion ofthe material of the die blank. By extrusicin, we mean the displacement of certain portions of the. die

material ,-which is preferably. metal, relatively to one surface of the materlal'in such-a manner as to cause the die-metal to flow so that the relief portions remain integrally united with the body ofthe. die blank from which the metal was displaced. More specifically, the displacement is effected progressively in a linear direction, by the successive applications of pressure upon one side of the material from which the die is'to be made, each pressure application acting upon a relatively small area of the material to produce only a minute part of the design which is tobe ultimately attained. In other words, the complete design is composed of numerous successively displaced portions of the die material, which, joined together, produce a relief line. In producing the relief by a metal flow, as distinguished from a purely bending displacement, a corresponding intaglio design is formed in the opposite surface of the die blank, and this intaglio design may be filled up or not, as desired, according to the use for which the die is ultimately intended.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of embossing which includes the steps of progressively cutting, from one side of the die blank or body, relatively small particles, while displacing particles relatively to the surface at the other side of the blank to form a relief.

A still further object of the invention is to provide suitable instrumentalities by means of which our improved embossing method may be practiced, and embodying a metal working instrumentality and a metal forming instrumentality or mold, these instrumentalities being adapted to have a rapid, relative reciprocal movement in their cooperative relation, so that by progressively feeding the die blank or material betweenthe same, the material will be progressively embossed thereby through successive displacements of portions of the material along a line, forming a relief rib on one side of the material and a corresponding groove or channel in the other side. The instrumentalities termed a male die and a female die, although it is to be understood that neither of .the same embraces the complete design which, according to our new method, is produced by the continuous progressive advancement of the die relatively to the blank or body upon which the embossinglaction is to be performed;

Other'objects and advantages of the invention just referred to may be respectivelygenerally' will behereinafterdescribed and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the. drawingsz- Figure '1 is avertical, sectional view through one form of apparatus for practicing the improved embossing or. pattern-forming method disclosed hereingand ,fessentially embodying a reciprocal male tool or die and a' stationary female forming mold or die;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of oneform of forming mold orfemale die adapted for use in the apparatus of Figure 1 Figure "3 is a front elevation 0 tion of the mold or die illustrated in Figure 2;

f the upper; por

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a modified female mold or die construction;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the modified instrumentality illustrated in Figure 4;

Figures 6 and '7 are respectively front and side elevations of the lower portion oi one form of male tool or die adapted for use in the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figures 8 and 9 are views respectively corresponding to Figures 6 and 7, and showing a slightly modified construction of male tool or die;

Figures 10 and 11 are respectively front and side elevations of a still further modified form of male tool or die;

Figure 12 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating one type of action of the male and female instrumentalities or dies of the apparatus of Figure 1, in embossing a plate interposed therebetween, as viewed in the direction of feed of the plate between the dies, the plate being shown in section and the male die in the position corresponding to the lower limit of its downward stroke, or some intermediate position in the stroke, according to the desired stroke length which is selected;

Figure 13 is a view generally similar to Figure 12, but differing therefrom in the particular respect that the plate being embossed has superposed thereon a second or filler plate, from which latter plate the material engaged by the male tool is cut and forced by the pressure of the tool into the lower plate and fills up the groove or channel which would otherwise be left in the upper side of the plate, simultaneously with the production of the relief design, this filling of the groove being a modification of the method of em bossing illustrated in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the parts illustrated in Figure 13, with the male die shown in full lines in an elevated position and in broken lines in a lower position corresponding to the position of the tool in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary plan view-of a plate in the act of being embossed in the manner illustrated in Figure 12, and as viewed from above, that is, towards the side of the plate engaged by the male tool or die;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary plan view, generally similar to Figure 15, and illustrating the embossing method as performed according to the arrangement illustrated in Figures 13 and 14; V

Figure 1'7 is a view generally similar to Figure 12, but showing the use of a male tool or die which is slightly narrower in width than the recess of the female mold or die;

Figure 18 shows a still further modified die arrangement, differing principally from that disclosed in Figures 12 and 17 in that the male tool or die is of considerably narrower width than the recess of the female mold or die, and further differing in respect to the length of the stroke of the male tool, which, as shown, brings the male tool slightly below the bottom surface of the die blank or body being embossed, and partially penetrating into the relief itself;

Figure 19 is a view generally similar to Figure 18, and illustrating a typical use of a slightly wider male tool or die than that shown in Figure 18, and the effect of limiting the stroke of the male tool to less than that required to force the relief completely to the bottom of the recess of the female mold or die;

Figure 20 is a view, in top plan of a still furtheimodified form of female mold or die through means of which one relief design may be joined at a predetermined angle with another relief design without multilating the latter;

Figure 21 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 2l-2l of Figure 20;

Figure 22 is a view in side elevation of the female mold or die illustrated in Figure 20;

Figure 23 is a longitudinal sectional view through a blank or body of material in the course of being embossed according to our new method, and illustrating a still further modified form of male tool or die which cuts or shaves a relatively small particle from the plate while displacing portions of the plate relatively to the lower side thereof and forces the latter into the female mold or die, on each stroke, the view illustrating the relative positions of the parts at the beginning of a downward stroke of the male tool following at least a partial embossing of the complete relief design;

Figure 24 is a view generally similar to Figure 23, with the male tool or die partially depressed, in full lines, on the downward stroke and in the act of cutting or shaving off a small particle of the blank, while at the same time, displacing certain portions of the blank relatively to the lower surface of the same to form the relief. According to the example illustrated in this view, the lowermost position of the male tool or die is illustrated in broken lines, although it is to be understood that the stroke is not necessarily this great; and

Figure 25 is a fragmentary plan view of a body having an embossed design thereon wherein portions of the embossed design are joined at an angle to other portions, the view being taken in a direction looking towards the relief side of the body.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring first to the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, i designates an eccentric shaft which may be driven by any suitable source of power (not shown), and which is provided at one extremity with an eccentric pin or hub 2 which is journaled in a cross-head 3, the latter being reciprocally mounted in suitable guides (not shown) on the frame of the machine, generally designated 5. Operatively connected with the cross-head 3, as by means of a swivel screw 6, is a plunger or ram 1, the latter being suitably mounted in a guide 8 having an adjustable bushing 9 interposed therebetween. The lower end of the plunger or ram 1 is so constructed as to be capable of removably receiving the shank of a male tool or die, generally designated Hi. This tool Ill may be of any suitable construction, such as, for example, any: of the various forms illustrated in Figures 6 to 11 inclusive, 17 to 19 inclusive, and 23 and 24. A collet nut ll serves to rigidly secure the die to the plunger 1 so as to cause the same to be reciprocated in a vertical direction pursuant to a rotation of the eccentric shaft i. Preferably, the reciprocation of the tool I0 is relatively rapid, as for example, on the order of several hundred strokes or more per minute.

Coacting with the male tool or die I0 is a female forming mold or die, generally designated i2, which is removably mounted in any suitable manner in the bed or work-table iii of the machine. l4 designates a stripper foot, which is preferably adjustably mounted so as to enable the same to be adjustably spaced above the female die l2 of the material which is to be' passed between the male tool ifl'and female mold l2 in the performance of an embossing operation, as hereinafter more fully described.

Means is preferably provided to enable the nates one form of suitable instrumentality which will attain this end. With the member IS inits withdrawn position asshown in Figure 1, the cross-head 3 can reciprocatein an upward and downward direction as the eccentric shaft i is rotated, without imparting any reciprocal movement to the plunger-J and the male tool l0 carried thereby. However, by depressing the handle 16 and lift pin 1 against the upward urge of the spring l8, there will be produced a corresponding depression or downward movement of the lift bolt i9 against the upward urge of the lift spring 20, and consequently the swivel screw 6 will be depressed so that the lift lock member l5 will be urged-inwardly by the action of the lift lock spring 2| until the inner end of the member 15 seatsbetween the upper end of the swivel screw 6 and the cross-head, thereby operatively locking the swivel screw 8 and plunger 1 to the cross-head 3 for reciprocation with the latter. 4

22 designates a turret head, and 23 a locking device which normally is engaged by the urge of the turret lock spring 24 so as to prevent the plunger 1 and male tool or die ID from shifting about the vertical axis. However, by withdrawing the turret lock member 23 against the inward urge of the spring 24, the-turret, plunger 1 and male tool l0 may be adjusted to any desiredangular position about the vertical axis, and then be lockedin such adjusted position by releasing the lock member 23, as will be'obviousf Additional angular adjustment of themale tool I-U about the vertical axis of the machine can be effected independently of the turret adjustment; just described by loosening the collet nut II, as will be obvious.

With the exception of the male tool l0 and the female mold or die l2, which are ofnovel construction, so much of theapparat'us as has been just generallydescribed, conforms to a well known construction of template cutting machine.

called a Nibbling machine. It is to beunderstood, however, that the practice. of our -embossing method is not limited-to an apparatus as 'just described, and shown inFigurel, as the method may be performed through the use of other instrumentalities which may be of an entirely different construction. The machine of Figure 1 has therefore been referred to; only for mechanism which is suitable for ourpurposes,

Passing now to the construction ofthe female forming mold or die l2, andreferringfirst: to the form illustrated in Figures 2 and ,3, said die is provided'at its upper end with an upstanding projection of substantially horseshoe-shaped form, providing laterally spaced lugs or bosses 25 defining anintervening recess 26. According to this particular construction, the "lugs, or bosses 25 are joined at theirforward-"ends by a transversely. extending portion 21, which closes the recess 26. at the front or forward end thereof.

' The rearwarde'n'd of the'recess'f26is left open for reasons which will hereinafterbecome more apand bed l3 of the machine, according to the thickness j 3 parent. The height of the lugs 01' bosses 25 and 21, or in other words, the depth of therecess 26, may

be varied as desired according to the maximum or required prominence of the relief which is to be produced on the female die en aging sideof the plate or material to be embossed, as will be best understood'by reference to Figures 12 to 14, 17 to 19, 23 and 24. When the plate or body to be embossed is placed upon'the table or bed i3 of the machineof Figure 1, and progressively fedrearwardly over the female forming mold or die i2,

each downward stroke of the male tool or die I0 brings the latter into engagement with the upper face of the plate, whereupon, continuation of the tial cutting or shearing action, and a consequent flow of the materialfrom one side of the neutral axis of the plate towards the other, thereby forming a protuberance orrelief on the lower side of the plate, and a recess or depression in the upper side of the plate. Referring particularly to Figures l2 and 15 in which the male tool in is of the type illustrated in detail in Figures and 11, and isof substantially the same width as the recess in the female mold or die l2, the latter being either of the types illustrated in Figures 2 to 5;the feeding of the plate 28 between the dies l0 and 12 in a continuous line will produce successive cuttings or shavings of small amounts of the material of the plate, one'cut or shaving per stroke of the male tool, and these cuttings or shavings are forced downwardly by the respective successive downward strokes of the male tool,

therebydisplacing portions of the material of the plate downwardly relativelyto the bottom surface of the plate and into the recess of the female mold, the latter defining and limiting the width of the relief by reason of the provision of V the laterally spaced lugs 25 or 25, as, the case may be. It is important to note that the flow of the displaced material is substantially unrestricted in thedirection of the progressive feed or advancement of the plate between the 'dies. As each successive cutting or shaving is cut and displaced downwardly, the pressure of themale die thereon causes the same-to become more or less intimately bonded with the previously, cut material, and in the lowermost extremity of the relief, the material' of the relief is substantially: homogeneous in structure, without anyclearly. de-v fined demarcations between the successively displaced-portions of the material which .form the relief, due to the factthat the cutting action Y does not extend completelytothe lower extremity of the relief, although the lower extremity of the relief may'lncludesome cut material together with othermaterial which has been displaced and flowedLthereby producing a smooth and sharply defined surface. on the bottom face of the relief. Moreover, the relief remains integral with the body of the blank orplate being is composed of a multiplicity of relatively small particles of metal, and consequently is of more or less composite character, although the ma terial of the relief is flowed together into an integr'al structure, particularly at the free extremity thereof and at the corners where the relief joins the main body of the blank on which it is produced. It will be understood that the direction of feed of the plate 28 may be varied so as to produce irregular embossed or relief designs, and the embossing may be interrupted and started at any point as desired, as will be obvious from the several arbitrary designs depicted in Fig- I ure 15.

In the case where the male tool In is of substantially the same width as the recess 26 of the female mold or die l2, as illustrated in Figure 12, it is desirable in producing an embossed design, to terminate the downward stroke of the male tool l0 above the bottom surface of the plate in order not to completely sever the material which is displaced by the tool, or in other words,-to keep the metal working maletool I0 from entering the recess of the female mold or die. However, as best seen in Figure 18, if the cutting tip of the male tool i0 is substantially less in width than the width of the recess of the female mold or die I2, the stroke of the male tool can even be extended to a point below the bottom surface of the plate 28 and partially into the recess of the female mold or die I2, if desired, without completely severing the displaced material from the blank. Provision is preferably made in the apparatus of Figure 1 for permitting the adjustment of the stroke of the plunger 1, and consequently the male tool l0, as by varying the throw of the eccentric 2, or otherwise.

Variation in the prominence and shape of the relief may be attained in a number of different ways, certain of which may be more suitable for certain purposes than others. The volume of material which is displaced on each stroke of the male tool, and the relation of this volume to the lateral dimensions of the recess in the female mold or die l2, more or less governs the transverse contourof the relief, it being remembered that the displacement of the material from the blank or plate being embossed is unrestricted in the direction of advancement of the feed of the plate, and hence the relief produced is of a linear character. By way of further explanation, and referring particularly to Figure 19, there is illustrated an example of embossing wherein the operative tip of the male tool [0 is of such width, as compared with the width of the recess 26 in the female mold or die I2, and the length of the stroke of the male tool i0 is such, that the volume of material successively displaced downwardly respecting the face of the plate 28 is insuflicient to fill the recess 26 completely to the bottom. Consequently, the bottom face of the relief 29 is more or less rounded transversely, and while the relief is not as prominent as it would be in the case where it extends completely to the bottom of the recess 26, nevertheless, it is of uniform width, and its lateral edges are sharply defined by reason of the lateral restriction to the flow of the displaced material oifered by the spaced lugs or bosses 25. Substantially the same result could be accomplished in the examples illustrated in Figures 12, 17, and 18 by terminating the downward stroke of the male tool above the limit illustrated in these views, or by the substitution of a male tool In having a narrower operative tip, or by a combination of these modifications. The resultant relief, such as is illustrated in Figure 19, will be useful for'some purposes, although perhaps the most useful type of relief is one where the displaced material has been forced completely to the bottom of the recess of the female mold or die I2, thereby producing a flat, smooth and sharply defined face on the free extremity of the relief. As illustrated in the various modifications of the different figures, the inner faces of the lugs or bosses 25 or 25 may be perpendicular or inclined respecting the perpendicular, as desired. By varying the spacing of the lugs 25 or 25', or in other words, by varying the width of the recess 26 or 26, the width of the resultant relief can be varied over a comparatively wide range from coarse to fine, or vice versa. Where it is desired to produce a relief, the face at the free extremity of which is less than a sixteenth of an inch in width,we preferably employ a female mold or die l2 which has a recess defined by walls inclining inwardly and downwardly from top to bottom so that the bottom of the recess is considerably narrower than the top. The size of the male tool In for use with such a female mold or die will depend upon the thickness of the plate or body to be embossed, and the nature of the material being embossed. The important thing to be borne in mind is that the male tool selected should be strong enough to perform the embossing operation without breakage, and the stroke of the tool should be adjusted so that the required volume of material will be displaced sufiiciently to fill the recess of the female mold to the required depth corresponding to the desired width of the relief. It is also important to bear in mind that due allowance should preferably be made for a slight lateral expansion of the relief as it is being progressively produced. We have found that in actual practice, the relief will increase in lateral dimension as it leaves the recess of the female mold or die l2, as evidenced by the fact that after the relief has been produced, it will not fit back accurately into the recess of the female mold. While the expansion just referred to is only slight, it appears to be a physical manifestation of the flow phenomenon which results from the successive continuous material displacement which produces the relief.

Referring now to Figures 23 and 24, which have been shown in an effort to more or less diagrammatically illustrate in detail the embossing action of our improved method, as accomplished through the use of one typical form of apparatus, it being understood that the action is substantially the same in the various other illustrated examples, I0 represents the male tool or metal Working instrumentality, and I2 the female metal forming mold or die having the recess 26 registering with the operative tip Illa of the tool l0. As previously mentioned, the tool i0 is adapted to be rapidly reciprocated vertically as the body or plate 28 to be embossed is progressively fed therebeneath. The particular tool ill of these views is provided with a shoulder lob, which, as will be clearly seen, serves to cut or shave off a small cutting or shaving on each downward stroke of the tool, while the bottom face I00 displaces portions of the plate, including the shavings or cuttings previously cut by the lip lob. Figure 23 represents the beginning of a downward stroke of the male tool [0, although it is to be understood that at the very beginning of the embossing operation, the male tool l0 must be raised sufficiently far above the female mold or die I2 to allow the vancement is inthe nature of an intermittent feed. I

in which the plate moves Just'a slight amount as the tool l0 reaches the top'of its stroke, to bring a smallamount of material beneath the cutting lip illb. Inasmuch as the, reciprocation of the.

tool I0 is-very rapid, the feed of the plate is substantially continuous, although it .maybe interrupted and started at will, as will be obvious. In Figure '23,; it .will :be understood that the embossing has. been partially. performed, and the stroke of the tool I 0 which immediately preceded the beginningof thestroke shown in this figure has left the material of the-plate in substantially the shape indicated at 285. Nowas the plate isfed underthe tool it, as limited by the engagemerit of the corner 2;" with the front face Hid of .the operative tip Illa, and the tool I0 is caused to be moved downwardly, the cutting lip lflb will shave off a small particle orshaving 28", to a depth part way through the plate, as best seen in Figure 24, and this cutting or shaving 28' iscarried downwardly with the tool l0 and is caused ultimately to be-acted'upon by the face I00 and become intimately bonded or flowed into the material-adjacentto the-lower side of the plate. While this'sh'aving 28 is being cut, the bottom face 'lllc of the tool l0 displaces the material 28, registering therewith, which-is composed of material previously partially'displaced by the cutting lip [0b, and also material which originally formed'thelow'er part of the plate, and this material 28- is extruded or flowed into the recess 26 of the female mold l2, thereby forming a relief on the bottom surface of the plate 28 which .is acontinuation of the relief 29 already previously formed. ,The downward stroke of the tool 10 mayormay not be continued; downwardly to the position represented by the dash-dot lines in Figure 24 as desired. By reason of theprogressive metal flowing. action which is produced by thesuccessive' strokes of the male tool It), attended by a progressive-feedof'the plate 28 beneath the latter, the displaced metal particles remain integrally united with the bodyof the plate 28,"and at least the lowerextremity 29' of the relief 29 will have substantially a homogeneous structural; character; although perhaps the upper face 29" of the relief, which lies at the bottom of the channel 30 may or may not have a somewhat. rough or fringed construction, according to the extent'of the compression exerted on the material bythe coacting tools or dies.

At least the bottom'fa'c'e 28", of the relief 29 will the bottom surface of the platen, according towhether thefemale mold or die I2 has a recess which is rectangular or trapezoidal in transverse cross-section.

The method which forms a part of our invention is more particularly applicable to the embossing'of metal, and the nature of the metal may vary widely with perhaps the only limita-' tion that the metal should be more or less ductile and not so brittleas in the case of some metals.

The method may be successively practiced in embossing lead, zinc, brass, aluminum, copper, certain steels, etc. If the embossed plate is to be used as a die to stamp or make an impression in some hard metaL'the embossing should be performed upon a relatively hard metal capable of withstanding the stresses which will be imposed thereupon, without mutilation of the embossed design. on the other hand, the embossing may be initially performed on a relatively soft plate 'of lead, zinc,.or =the like, and thereafterthis plate may be used as a pattern from which other dies may be cast, and employinga harder metal for the final dies. 'Complement'al male and female dies may be produced through the use of 1 the'respectivematrix and relief sides of the original embossed plate as'a mold pattern, as wm be obvious to those skilled in the art. Through the paratus to free-hand embossing work'is of con.-

siderable importance, and enables the designs to be varied over a wide. range from regular to irregular." Another very important advantage attributed to our new'method resides in its adaptability to the production of relief designs which;

extend from one edge, of aplate or blank, clear across to an opposite edge. Heretofore, this has beenlimpossible, and we arenow able to eliminate the waste material. which formerly had to be cut off at the ends of the embossed design by reason of the necessity for terminating the designs substantially short cr remote from the edges or ends of the blank. In other words; according toour process, we can start the relief at one extreme edge of the blank, asseen in Figure 1 5, and carry it. by the progressive" advancement of the feed of the plate completely to an opposite or adjacent edge,leaving no. selvage, so to speak. It is to be understood, however; that the embossing may I be started. and'terminated at any point within the limits of the blank, and it is not necessary to begin or terminatethe embossing at an edge.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the female mold or die l2 illustrated therein is generally similarto that illustrated'in Figures '2 and 3, excepting that the transverse lug or boss 21 of the latter construction is omitted, leaving the recess 26 formed between the upstanding lugs or bosses 25' open at the front as well as at the back. This modified form of female mold-is particularly useful where it is desired to join the ends of an inter.- rupted relief, or in' the case of a circular design,

to close. the circle by extending the line to the original starting point,"'and has various other advantages.

As in the case-ofthe mold of Figures 2 and 3, the mold of :Figures 4' and 5 oflers substantially no restrlctionin the direc tion ofthe linear advancementof the design,

to the flow of the material as it is displaced in the course of the embossing action. The recess 26 is'substantially trapezoidal in transverse crosssection and the lateral restriction to the flow of material during the embossing, operation will 'pro-' 3'0 thermore, the adaptability of the method and ap-.

duce side walls on the relief 28 which are inclined with respect to the surface of the plate 28 on which the relief is formed. In mounting the female dies l2 in the die block ll of the apparatus of Figure 1, the upper face 32 of the die which, as shown, corresponds to the bottom of the recess 28 or 28' is preferably adjusted flush with or slightly above the surface of the work table l8, thereby disposing the lugs or bosses 25 or 25' above the plane of the work-table. Because of this arrangement, sufllcient clearance is afforded so as to prevent the relief pattern or rib 29 from being mutilated or crushed after the same is formed and during the subsequent manipulation of the plate 28 between the dies l and I2.

As previously mentioned, the form of the male tool or die l0 may be varied according to the nature of the particular material upon which the embossing operation is to be performed, and according to the type of relief which is to be produced, and in Figures 6 to 11 inclusive, we'have shown several typical forms which are suitable for our purposes. In Figures 6 and 7, the operative end or tip is provided with a substantially straight front face, and the width of the tip may or may not be equal to the width of the recess 28 or 26 of the female die or mold l2, as desired. In the use of this particular tool, the stroke of the tool must be adjusted so that the tool rises above the upper surface of the plate 28 on each upward stroke, whereby to permit the plate 28 to be progressively fed beneath the same. A little greater care has to be exercised in feeding the plate very slowly in this case so that on each downward stroke of the male tool In, only a small bite or portion of the material of the plate is taken by the male tool and caused to be displaced downwardly. Obviously, as the male die is brought into engagement with the plate 28, and caused to be moved downwardly below the upper surface of the plate, a, relatively small portion of the plate will be displaced downwardly from one side of the neutral axis of the plate towards the other side of the neutral axis, and as in the action hereinbefore described, this displacement will be attended by a consequent flow of metal which is restricted laterally by the female mold l 2 respecting the direction of advancement of the feed of the plate, and the resulting relief will be of a linear character. The male tool or die of Figures 8 and 9 is slightly modified from that illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, in that the operative end or tip i8" is provided with a shoulder 33, corresponding to the lip lb of Figures 23 and 24, which will produce a partial depression or displacement of a small portion or shaving of the plate on each downward stroke of the tool, and as the plate is advanced under the tool, the displacement will be completed to the desired final amount on the respective succeeding strokes by the action of the lower face 34.

The male tool of Figures 10 and 11 is quite similar in construction and function to the tool of Figures 8 and 9, with the notable difi'erence that the shoulder 33 is not so prominent as the shoulder 33, and is located closer to the lower extremity of the tip 1'. The shoulder 83' is not abrupt as the shoulder 38, and is more nearly in the nature of a bevel which gradually merges into the lower face 34'. This die is quite efficient in producing a sharply defined and smooth embossing operation and is suitable for use in embossing various types of metals. When either of the male tools illustrated in Figures 8 to 11 are used, it is not absolutely necessary to completely Withvdraw the tool from the plate 28 on each upward stroke of the tool, and by terminating the upward stroke at a point which is Just sufficient to allow the plate to be advanced forwardly under the tool a slight amount so as to allow the shoulder 38 or 38' to take another small bite, the feed of the plate can be automatically controlled in the same manner as that previously described in reference to the'male tool of Figures 23 and 24.

In Figures 12 to 14, the male tool It] has been illustrated as having the form of that shown in Figures 10 and 11, although it is to be understood that any of the other forms of male tools may be substituted therefor, as desired.

In Figures to 22 inclusive, there is shown a slightly modified form of female mold or die [2, wherein the upstanding bosses or lugs 25" are arranged parallel to each other, but terminate at their ends in faces 40 which are angularly disposed with respect to the recess 28" defined between the lugs 25". Such a female mold or die is useful where it is desired to extend one relief into another, as illustrated in Figure 25 by way of example, the junction of one relief with the other being possible without mutilating either relief. By varying the angle of the faces 40 respecting the recess 26', the junction of one relief with another at various angles may be attained.

According to the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 13, 14, and 16, the embossing action is generally the same as previously described. However, it will be noted that the male tool I0 is not brought directly into engagement with the plate or blank 28 on which the relief is to be formed, as in the case of the various other examples previously described, but instead, a filler plate 35 is superposed on the plate 28, and pressure is applied to the latter plate indirectly through the filler plate 35. In other words, the male tool l8 displaces and preferably completely severs the upper plate 35 on each downward stroke, and a small portion of the upper plate is forced into the contiguous side of the plate 28 so as to become embedded therein, the action of embedding serving to produce a displacement of a correspondingly small portion of the plate 28 in substantially the same manner as where the male tool directly engages the plate 28 as previously described. The progressive advancement of the feed of the two plates between the male tool l8 and the female mold or die l2 progressively produces a groove or channel in the upper side of the plate 28 and a corresponding protuberance or relief 29 on the lower side of the plate 28. However, the groove or channel 30 is filled up by the displacement of the material of the filler plate into the plate 28. Upon completion of the embossing operation, the filler plate 35 may be discarded, leaving the embossed plate 28 with the relief on one side thereof and a substantially uninterrupted surface on the opposite side, without any open grooves or channels 38. This filling of the grooves or channels 30 substantially reinforces the plate 28, and such an arrangement isparticularly well suited where the service to which the embossed plate 28 is to be put is severe, as in the case of cold stamping or embossing hard metal or some other material which is comparatively hard, through the use of the plate 28 as a stamping or an embossing die. There would be less likelihood of mutilation of the relief of the die 28 when the matrix or intaglio of the die is filled by the material of the filler plate in the manner just described.

It is to be understood that by progressively fecding the plates 35 and 28 between the male tool l and female mold l2, while maintaining their relative positions one on top of the other as illustrated, the embossing action upon the plate 28 may be extended along a continuous line,

; which may be interrupted and started at will, at

any point, in the same manner as where the male tool directly acts upon the plate 28 to form the ,reliei'.v

In- Figure- 1 6, the broken lines represent several arbitrary embossed designs as viewed irom the matrixp-or intag'lio' side of the plate, the de-' signs corresponding tothose shown in Figure 15,

" having the channels or depressions '30 filledup through the displacement of the material of the filler plate 35 intotheplate 28 during the embossing operation according to the method illustrated in Figure 14;v

Aspreviously mentioned, our new method and the various formspf apparatus or instrumentalities through which the method may be practiced,'readily lendthemselvesto the free-hand production of reliefdesigns. Of course, if desired, guide lines may be marked or scribed upon the] blank or body to be embossed for thepurpose of guiding the operator, and by feeding the- 1 work so that theguide lines are maintained in the path of or adjacent to the male tool 10, a corresponding'embossed design will be produced as will be clearly'understood.

,While the, specific details have been herein 1 shownand described, the invention is not con-' claim as new and fined thereto, as changes and alterations may be made without departing from. the spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Havingthus described our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent i's= 1. The method -of embossing metal plates and the like, which comprises producing a flow of metal from 'one side of the neutral axis of the platetowards the-opposite sid of said neutral axis, 'whe'reby to form a protuberance on the face of the plate which is disposed on the side of said neutral axis towards which the metal is caused to flow, and" a corresponding depression in. the-opposite face of the plate.

' 2;'The method ofembossing metal plates and the like-which comprises progressively producing a flow of metal from one side of the neutral axis .of the plate'towards the opposite side of said. neutral axis, by a relatively rapid displacement of metal of continguous areas of'the -plate, whereby to form a protuberance on the face of the plate which is disposed on the side face of the plate which is disposed on the side of said neutral axis towards which the metal is caused to flow, and a corresponding depression inthe opposite face of the plate, and progressively advancing the flow of metal along the plate according to a desired design.

4. The method of forming a relief on metal plates and the like, which comprises displacing a section of metal from-one plate, and simultaneously embedding the displaced section in a contiguous plate to a depth less than the thickness of the latter plate, whereby to effect a displacement of a corresponding section 01f the latter plate, resulting in the formation of a pro tuberance'on the side of the latter plate opposite to the side in which the aforementioned section of the flrstplate is embedded.

5. The method of forming a relief on metalplates and the like, which comprises displacing a section of metal from one plate, gnd'simultaneously embedding the displaced section in a contiguous plate to a depth" less than the thickness of the latter plate, whereby to effect a displacement. of a corresponding section of the latter plate, resulting in the formation of a protuberance on the side of the latter plate opposite to the side in which the aforementioned section of the first plate is embedded, and successively repeating the simultaneous displacement and embedding operation at different areas of the plates according to a desired design.

6. An apparatus for embossing a metal plate along a continuous'line, comprising relatively reciprocable male and female dies between which vthe plate is adapted to be progressively fed along said-line; said male die having a relatively blunt operative metal working tip and said female die having a recess which is adapted to define the lateral dimension of the design but not the length, whereby to progressively. produce a cha'nneland a complementary rib on respectively opposite sides of the plate.

. '7.:An apparatus for embossing metal plates the like, comprising a frame, a work-table supported by'said frame; a male die reciprocably m'ounted upon said frame above said work-table,

and a female 'die associated with said work-table so that the plates may be fed thereover and upon said"Work-table, said female die including upstanding bosses arranged in spaced relation .to form a recess therebetween coaxial withsaid male die, said bosses projecting upwardly above the upper surface of the work-table, and the base of. said recess between the bosses being arranged substantially flush with the upper surface of the-work-table.

8. The method of'forming metal patterns and the like, which comprises progressively displacing portions of the metal from a plate along a continuous line, by successive displacements of metal along the line.

9. The method of-embossing metal bodies and the like, comprising the steps of displacing from the body relatively small particles, and compressing the same'to flow the particles together and form a relief. a

10. The method of embossing metal bodies and the like, comprising the steps of progressively displacing from the body in a linear direction relatively small particles, and compressing the the other side to form a relief, and compressing the particles.

13. The method of embossing metal bodiesand the like, which comprises progressively displacing from the body at one side relatively small particles while displacing particles relative to the surface at the other side to form a relief, and compressing the particles while leaving the particles unrestrained in the direction of progressive advancement of the particle displacement. 1

14. The method of embossing metal bodies and the like, which comprises cutting from the body at one side relatively small particles while displacing particles relative'to the surface at the other-side to form a relief, and filling the space in the body from which the particles are displaced.

15. The method of embossing metal plates and the like, which comprises progressively displacing relatively small portions of the material of the plate to produce a flow of metal from one side of the neutral axis of the plate toward the opposite side, while limiting the flow of metal laterally respecting the direction of the progressive displacement, whereby to provide a sharply defined relief on one side of the plate.

16. The method of embossing metal plates and the like, which comprises progressively severing and simultaneously displacing relatively small portions of the material of the plate to produce a flow of metal from one side of the neutral axis of the plate towards the opposite side, while limiting the flow of metal laterally respecting the direction of the progressive severance, whereby to provide a sharply defined relief on one side of the plate.

17. The method of embossing metal plates and the like, which comprises partially severing and displacing relatively small portions of the material of the plate to produce a flow of metal from one side of the neutral axis of the plate towards the opposite side, whereby to form a relief on one side of the plate which is an integral part of the plate, and compressing the partially severed displaced metal portions .to intimately bond the same together within predetermined limits.

' 18. The method of embossing metal plates and the like, which comprises partially severing and displacing relatively small portions of the material of the plate to produce a flow of metal from one side of the neutral axis of the plate towards the opposite side, whereby .to form a relief on one side of the plate which is an intgral part of the plate, progressively advancing the severance and displacement aforesaid along the plate, and compressing the partially severed displaced metal portions during the progressive advancement of the severance and displacement to intimately bond the same together within predetermined limits.

19. The method of embossing metal plates and the like, which comprises partially severing and displacing relatively small portions of the material of the plate to produce a flow of metal from one side of the neutral axis of the plate towards the opposite side,'whereby to form a relief on one side of the plate which is an integral part of the plate, and compressing the partially severed displaced metal portions in a lateral direction to intimately bond the same together within predetermined limits.

20. The method of embossing metal plates and the like, which comprises partially severing and displacing relatively small portions of the material of the plate to produce a flow of metal from one side of the neutral axis of the plates towards the opposite side, whereby to form a relief on one side of the plate which is an integral part of the plate, and compressing the partially severed displaced metal portions in a lateral direction and also in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the plate.

21. The method of producing designs on metal plates and the like, which comprises interposing a plate between relatively movable male metalworking and female metal-forming instrumentalities adapted to progressively produce the design, the male instrumentality having a relatively small blunt cutting end and the female instrumentality having spaced walls defining the limits of the lateral sides of the design, and applying pressure to one of said instrumentalities to cause the male instrumentality to displace the metal registering therewith into the female instrumentality with a consequent metal flowing action which is limited in a lateral direction by the walls of the female instrumentality, and progressively advancing said flow along the plate through relative movement between the instrumentalities and the plate in a direction co-extensive with the plate, whereby to produce a linear relief design on one side of the plate, and a corresponding intaglio design in the opposite side of the plate.

22. The method of producing designs on metal plates and the like, which comprises interposing a plate between relatively movable male metal-working and female metal-forming instrumentalities adapted to progressively produce the design, the male instrumentality having a relatively small blunt cutting end and the female instrumentality having spaced walls defining the limits of the lateral sides of the design, applying pressure to one of said instrumentalities to cause the male instrumentality to displace the metal registering therewith into the female instrumentality with a consequent metal flowing action which is limited in a lateral direction by the walls of the female instrumentality, progressively advancing said flow along the plate through relative movement between the instrumentalities and the plate in a direction co-extensive with the plate, whereby to produce a linear relief design on one side of the plate, and a corresponding intaglio design in the opposite side of the plate, and displacing metal from a second plate, superimposed upon the first-mentioned plate, simultaneously with the displacement aforesaid, through means of the same instrumentalities, whereby to fill the intaglio design.

23. The method of embossing metal bodies and the like, which comprises displacing from one body relatively small particles and forcing the same into another body at one side while displacing particles relatively to the surface at the other side of said latter body to form a relief.

24. The method of embossing metal bodies and the like, which comprises displacing from one body relatively small particles and forcing the same into another body at one side while displacing particles relatively to the surface at the other side of said latter body to form a relief, and progressively advancing the displacements aforesaid in a linear direction.

SAUL KAUFFMAN. GEORGE G. D085. 

